Why We Don't Watch Golf

I fondly remember watching Tiger win the 2019 Masters while taking a casual stationary bike ride in at the St. Louis Park Lifetime Fitness just outside of Minneapolis.

It is the only memory I have of watching professional golf. While I was surrounded by many other folks, ultimately, I was watching golf alone.

On the other hand, my family often discusses me losing a baby tooth during a knee football game held during a Washington Redskins Super Bowl party.

I remember being at the William Penn Tavern in Shady Side in Pittsburgh when App State upset Michigan in 2007 and then three years later when Sidney Crosby scored the overtime goal for Canada to defeat the US in the gold medal game.

I remember sitting in my friends living room watching him trade tears and fist pumps as Kobe dropped 60 points in his final game in 2016.

I remember my friend waking me at the start of the Texas/USC overtime and then lifting me over his shoulder when Vince Young walked into the corner of the Rose Bowl end zone.

I remember when that same friend, was mouthing off about Tom Brady, and another friend’s mom, a Steelers fan who was kind enough to cook and bring adult beverages to our college house, promptly told him to, “Shut the fuck up.”

Golf might have bigger grow the game issues than the cost of the equipment or course availability.

Golf isn’t a social sport.

Not when you’re playing nor when you’re watching.

The way the entire Western Pennsylvania region feels after a Steelers loss can’t be compared to the Taylor Gooch fans following his runner up finish at LIV Las Vegas a few weeks ago.

You could argue that Ali and Tyson, also individual sport athletes, were appointment viewing back in the day and it was a social event because someone needed to order the PPV (at least for a Tyson fight) but, they didn’t fight sixteen times a season. There’s a supply and demand issue.

You may be someone who considers soccer soft compared to football. However, European soccer fans are arguably more rapid packing 70,000+ stadiums for 38 games a season. Do you watch the Ryder Cup by yourself?

I remember spending the summer between Highland, Indiana and Chicago, Illinois tracking the USA in the 2002 World Cup held in Korea. Do you remember were the Ryder Cup was held in 2002?

Have you ever seen video footage of a watch party outside the course for golf tournament? That’s a bare minimum activity for NHL and NBA teams hosting a post season game.

Neighborhoods have rotating houses to host Super Bowl parties. Team sports are social events that captivate even men who didn’t play that sport, women, and children.

The common adult golfer with a wife kids isn’t going to take 5 hours on a weekend to play and then watch the final round on television. I should probably say, he isn’t going to be allowed to spend this much time away from his family.

Therein lies another key reason for golf’s viewership numbers being so out of sink with the participation numbers. I can pay for a round at Pebble Beach. I can have delusions of grandeur about becoming a scratch golfer. I can start a YouTube channel that generates half a million subscribers and then be invited to a PGA qualifying event.

Anyone with the financial means can play beautiful and historic public golf courses. If you’re well connected, you can beautiful and historic private golf courses.

There is a possibility that a non professional could shoot a lower number than a professional did on the same course during a tournament.

The average sports fan understands that he isn’t 6’8” 210lbs and will never be able to shoot a fade away like Kobe. But, that same fan can be allowed to dream of going low at Erin Hills and that’s why it is more enticing to play than to watch golf.

I can have many high level experiences on golf course and chase down many achievements for the next 20 years. Those achievements are worthy because they are recognized by every golfer. A hole in one, breaking 80, winning an amateur tournament. No one would care for more than three minutes if I knocked in the winning run in a co-ed softball league.

Golf excellence is still realistic later in life. You cannot say the same about other major sports. Thus, it makes sense that golfers with a free five hours would opt to play rather than be a spectator.

When we are angry about our golf performance it ends the moment we leave the course perhaps resurfacing at on the first tee the next round.

That same friend who picked me up to celebrate the Vince Young touchdown had to meet with his parents about his behavior after a Steelers loss. He was in his mid 20s. Team sports impact towns, regions, states.

Yes, NHL teams would love to wrap up a series early but getting another home generates millions of dollars for the city.

My elementary school was never going to have Sunday Red on Friday to support Tiger, but they will have a black and yellow day during the playoffs.

Perhaps, the LIV team model will help attract some new eyes be they PGA converts or other sports fans entirely. At least, they are trying something different.

The PGA could not figure out how to capitalize on peak Tiger and more importantly didn’t have a plan for the post Tiger era, as if Father Time isn’t undefeated.

I would rather be playing golf than watching it on television. Many others have the same thought. The PGA viewing experience hasn’t done them any favors thanks to an abundance of commercials. LIV meanwhile has a commercial free feed on YouTube and LIVGolfPlus.com.

You may find the on course music distracting. Many of us alternate our attention between watching a show and scrolling Twitter to discuss the show or sporting event. Music plays during a movie and television. Is it different and new from hearing birds chirping and quick cuts between the ball flight and a golfer’s eyes? Sure.

I found my first LIV watching experience to be comparable to NFL Redzone going quad box. It is far more entertaining than a single football game especially if Romo is on the call. Struggling to keep up will always be more compelling than fighting boredom.

LIV golf viewership numbers on the CW are easy fodder for PGA backers. It isn’t an apples to apples comparison since the PGA isn’t on an obscure cable network.

The unfortunate reality is PGA numbers have been greatly diminished due to the talent exodus both in terms of actual golf talent and on course/off course personalities. Even Tiger’s return to Riveria couldn’t prevent a hemorrhaging of viewership.

What does the future look like for LIV execs?

Are they hoping to continue win over PGA fans or radicalize other sports fans and bettors who haven’t given golf a chance yet?

I was someone who had been away from the sport for 20 years, but by early 2023 I was going to the simulator in Chicago five times a week. Because of that time commitment, I was unwilling to also spend time watching Netflix’s Full Swing.

At 4:53AM on March 15, 2023, I watched the first episode and became completely enamored with Brooks Koepka.

Koepka having his failures on public display in the family living room was exactly the psychotic behavior I admired in my favorite athletes.

As a result, I watched the 2023 Masters and PGA Championship very closely as well as followed the 2023 LIV season.

Who knows if I’d be paying attention to LIV as much if I had’t watched that episode. Hopefully, season 3 of Full Swing includes LIV golfers and removes a certain Furniture Sports blogger, but a better choice would be to film their own version and sell it to a competing streamer.

What’s the LIV strategy for 2024?

Quite honestly, the season has featured incredibly smooth sailing prior to someone jamming a microphone in front of Talor Gooch. They’re lucky Anthony Kim is returning this week.

LIV’s slogan shouldn’t be golf but louder.

It should be, more golf, faster.

LIV Jeddah Picks

Speaking of golf bettors, we asked Jake Ferraro to send over his picks for the weekend. He’s an ex college golfer currently living in my former stomping

Patrick Reed +3800

Adrian Meronk +2700

Matt Wolff +3200

T10:

Bland +450

Oosthuizen +180

T20:

Uihlein -120

Burmester -150

Surratt +100

1st rd leader special:

Oosthuizen +2400

You may need to use an offshore bookie like MyBookie as not all states are taking LIV bets.

Give him a follow on Twitter. If you’ve never bet on sports, having a little lunch money at stake is a completely different way to experience a sporting event.

Bet safely!